Is my CPU thermal-sensor bad?

[TiltedBrian]

I'm posting this because I'm a little worried, just recently, my mobo monitoring utility has been bugging me saying that my CPU is running way too hot... it says it's running at 80 degrees celcius! I know this is EXTREMELY hot, but I have reason to believe it's not really running that hot.... I'm just asking if you can help justify my reasoning...

a.) surely if the CPU were running @ 80c it would have fried by now
b.) SURELY if it were running @ 80c my system would be unstable/random lockups
c.) I've used an instant-touch thermometer on the top of the heatsink under the fan RIGHT up against the CPU and it read 30c
d.) the air moving through the fan is barely "warm"
e.) If I underclock/overclock the CPU, the temperature doesn't change at all, no matter what the circumstances (I've underclocked it 300mhz without change in temp)

Now really, the sensor for my CPU, is it bad? I mean, I can't really be running that hot, it was running at 30c before this happened perfectly fine with the OEM sink/fan on it... and that was overclocked! This just SUDDENLY happened one day... so, can you justify my belief of the sensor being screwed up?


Thanks in advance

 

[TiltedBrian]

and, I've been running my system @ this SUPPOSED 80c temperature for over 2 weeks now, playing games, surfing the web, running memory intesive apps.... and it's been PERFECTLY stable.... this is why I believe it's not true, I would have crashed or locked up by now IMO

 

[TiltedBrian]

come on? anyone?

 

[Katabatik]

Where are you checking the temps at. BIOS or a software app. What kind of system do you run. 80C is stil in spec (for some proc), barely though. You might have to reseat teh HSF. Sometimes it may lean to one side. Your sys specs would be helpful.

 

[Shadow ÒÓ]

Moved post to Intel Motherboards

 

[[Oc]acaridans]

what motherboard do you have?

Your best bet for accurate temp readings is to get an external sensor.
It has been known to get wacked readings from the bios or software monitors. Its also possiable that the on board sensor is bad.

 

[TiltedBrian]

The processor is an 800mhz P3 cu-mine, the mobo is pretty crappy, I'll be getting a new one soon, it's an FIC FB11

I got the temperature reading from that sensor from 3 places, the BIOS, hardware monitor which came with mobo, and Sandra... all say around 80c...

however I the closest I can get with an external sensor is 30c.... so I'm almost positive now it's a screwy sensor...

sorry to bother some of you, but hey, if your mobo suddenly said your chip was running @ 80c, wouldn't you be worried?

 

[[Oc]acaridans]

TiltedBrian (Jul 08, 2001 10:13 p.m.):
The processor is an 800mhz P3 cu-mine, the mobo is pretty crappy, I'll be getting a new one soon, it's an FIC FB11

I got the temperature reading from that sensor from 3 places, the BIOS, hardware monitor which came with mobo, and Sandra... all say around 80c...

however I the closest I can get with an external sensor is 30c.... so I'm almost positive now it's a screwy sensor...

sorry to bother some of you, but hey, if your mobo suddenly said your chip was running @ 80c, wouldn't you be worried?

I have a Asus motherboard, you get use to it after awhile